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Three Men Charged With Computer Crime

OCEAN PINES — Ocean Pines Police assisted federal law enforcement last week in the service of a search warrant at an Ocean Parkway home in Ocean Pines, resulting in a number of criminal charges related to computer crimes.

Members of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as Ocean Pines Police, served a search warrant at 66 Ocean Parkway in Ocean Pines on Dec. 4. The search warrant was in reference to a federal Kansas City investigation in which the three suspects located within the residence were suspected to be involved. Ocean Pines Police developed information on the location of the suspects and provided information to Federal authorities, which facilitated the investigation.

Three individuals were located inside the residence, and numerous electronic items, believed to be involved in a large computer crime network, were recovered. Ocean Pines Police arrested the three individuals on state criminal charges, and it is anticipated that federal charges shall be placed, at a later date. All three suspects are Russian nationals.

Police charged Zauer Anatolyevich Khezhev, 25, with possession of a re-encoder/skimming device and possession/use of a false government identification document; Reat Vorokov, 24, charged with possession of a re-encoder/skimming device and possession/use of a false government identification document; and Beslan Tlezhukov, 26, charged with possession of a re-encoder/skimming device.

All three suspects were taken before a District Court Commissioner and were released on personal recognizance, pending trial on Maryland criminal charges.

Former Deputy Indicted

SALISBURY — A former Wicomico County Sheriff’s Deputy was arrested on child sex abuse charges this week after allegedly engaging in explicit activities several years ago with a 15-year-old high school student.

On Monday, a Wicomico County grand jury indicted Kendall Elmer West, 44, of Salisbury, on a fourth-degree sex offense and a second-degree assault charge, among others, after Maryland State Police last week received a request from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office to conduct an investigation into his alleged activities. At the time of the alleged incidents, West was employed as a deputy with the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office.

State Police detectives learned the juvenile victim had allegedly become acquainted with West about 13 years ago. Further information obtained revealed the relationship consisted of several sexually-oriented incidents at various locations throughout Maryland. Detectives also learned the victim was a 15-year-old student in Wicomico County at the time of the alleged incidents. West was arrested on Monday after the grand jury indictment and is being held in the Wicomico County Detention Center on a $100,000 bond.

Alleged Handgun Thief Nabbed

POCOMOKE — A Princess Anne man was arrested on theft and firearm possession charges late last month after Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives were able to connect him to the theft of handguns from the Pocomoke business.

On Nov. 28, Pocomoke Police began an investigation into the theft of handguns from the Benelli USA Corp. in Pocomoke and WCBI detectives responded to assist. After extensive interviews with employees at Benelli, a potential suspect was identified as Ivy Darneild Matthews, 33, of Princess Anne.

Matthews had been a temporary worker at Benelli for less than a month when the handguns were discovered to be stolen. Search warrants were conducted on Matthews’ cell phone and residence, which revealed evidence of the theft of the guns and his intention to sell them. Further information was obtained revealing Jabri Wilson, 23, also of Princess Anne, was conspiring with Matthews to purchase the stolen guns.

Matthews was arrested and charged with theft and possession of firearms by a prohibited person. He is being held on a $100,000 bond. Wilson was also charged with conspiracy to purchase stolen firearms and conspiracy to commit theft.

Two Arrested For
Scrapping With Cops

BERLIN — Three people were arrested during a domestic disturbance in Berlin last week, including a local man for allegedly assaulting a female victim, and two Salisbury residents for allegedly scrapping with cops after the initial arrest.

Last Thursday, Berlin Police responded to a reported domestic disturbance on Powell Circle in Berlin. The investigation revealed a female victim had been assaulted by a suspect, identified as Eric Nordstrom, 41, of Berlin. Nordstrom was arrested and charged with second-degree assault as a result of the alleged altercation.

During the investigation, one of the combatants, identified as Jennifer Boyer, 29, of Salisbury, became disorderly. When officers attempted to place Boyer under arrest, she allegedly tried to fight with police.

While police were attempting to take Boyer into custody, another suspect, identified as Brian Bell, 28, of Salisbury, attempted to pull an officer away from Boyer. Both were taken into custody. Boyer was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Bell was charged with second-degree assault and failure to obey a lawful order. Each was taken before a District Court Commissioner and each was released on personal recognizance.

‘Molly’ Dealer Sentenced

SNOW HILL — A Columbia, Md. woman arrested in June after undercover officers purchased MDMA, more commonly known as “Molly,” from her in the downtown area pleaded guilty this week to distribution and possession and was sentenced to over a year in jail, all but 14 days of which were then suspended.

Around 10:45 p.m. on June 8, Ocean City police officers were working an undercover detail in the area of 26th Street and Philadelphia Ave. when they struck up a drug-related conversation regarding the purchase of MDMA, or “Molly.” During the course of the conversation, OCPD detectives were informed of a woman who was selling Molly in the area earlier that day. Undercover detectives arranged to meet with the suspect, later identified as Seyeanen Lucia Gilman, 21, that evening.

Around 12:20 a.m., OCPD officer met Gilman and purchased four capsules containing Molly with an estimated street value of $160. During a search of Gilman, Ocean City Police located several individually wrapped bags of marijuana. An OCPD K-9 scan of Gilman’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of $2,300.

This week in Circuit Court, Gilman pleaded guilty to distribution of MDMA and was sentenced to a year in jail. She also pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana and was sentenced to 60 days for that charge. All but 14 days of the combined sentences were then suspended. Gilman was also placed on probation for two years and fined a combined $300.

Stab Threat Nets Five Days

SNOW HILL — A Baltimore man arrested on assault and other charges in Ocean City in June after pulling a knife on and threatening to kill another man in the middle of a fight on a downtown street pleaded guilty this week in Circuit Court to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, all but five of which were suspended.

Shortly after 2 a.m. on June 12, an OCPD officer working in a plain clothes capacity in the area of 9th Street and Baltimore Ave. observed two large groups in the area, with one walking along the east side of Baltimore Ave. and the other walking in the middle of the street. One of the individuals, identified as Daymontay Lynet Johnson, 19, of Baltimore, could clearly be heard yelling at a member of the other group, “I got you, [expletive deleted] you,” and “I’ll stick you,” according to police reports.

The target of Johnson’s threats, identified as Kian Wayne Magruder, 19, was also yelling threats and cursing. At that point, about 50 people surrounded Johnson and Magruder and were attempting to break up the potential fight, according to police reports. The initial officer called for backup from uniformed officers because of the pending physical fight.

When the groups got to 9th Street, Johnson and Magruder squared up in fighting positions with the large groups surrounding them in a circle. The initial officer noticed Johnson’s hand down around his hip, but couldn’t see if he had anything in his hand. At that point, Magruder put his hands up in a defensive position and backed away from Johnson.

Meanwhile, uniformed officers arrived on the scene and advised Johnson to stop and sit down. However, Johnson fled the area and was apprehended around 9th Street and St. Louis Ave. after a brief foot chase and was arrested for disorderly conduct. The initial officer located Magruder around 10th Street and arrested him for disorderly conduct.

Magruder told police Johnson pulled a knife on him during the fight and said he was “going to stick him,” according to police reports.

OCPD officers talked with Magruder’s friends and corroborated the story about Johnson pulling a knife and threatening to stab Magruder. A search of the area around the initial confrontation revealed a knife in the grass near 9th Street and Baltimore Ave. where the fight originated.

Johnson was charged with first- and second-degree assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. This week in Circuit Court, Johnson pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and was sentenced to 90 days, all but five of which were then suspended. He was also fined $500 and placed on probation for 18 months.

Two Arrested For Theft

SNOW HILL — Two Worcester County men were arrested on motor vehicle theft charges after Worcester County Bureau of Investigation (WCBI) detectives were able to connect them to a burglary and theft of a truck Snow Hill last month.

On Nov. 13, Maryland State Police troopers began investigating a burglary and theft of a motor vehicle from a residence in Snow Hill. The stolen truck was recovered at the Dash In in Crisfield and Gary Shortt, 22, of Pocomoke was found with the vehicle and arrested. WCBI detectives later interviewed Shortt in jail and admitted he had planned the burglary with Chico Kenney, 40, of Pocomoke, and the pair had broken into the residence and stolen the truck. Shortt and Kenney have each been charged with burglary and theft of a motor vehicle.